German state election in Baden-Württemberg tests Merz's CDU amid tight race with Greens
Chancellor Friedrich Merz's centre-right CDU faces a regional election Sunday in the prosperous state of Baden-Württemberg, where it is neck and neck with the incumbent Greens.
March 8, 2026 at 10:01 AM
Voters in Baden-Württemberg headed to the polls Sunday in a regional election that serves as an early test of Chancellor Friedrich Merz's centre-right CDU following its national election victory a year ago.
Baden-Württemberg, a prosperous hub of Germany's auto sector with a population of 11.2 million, has been governed by the Greens, who won the last two state elections. The CDU is seeking to claim first place in the south-western state, reversing the Greens' recent electoral dominance in the region.
The race has tightened considerably in recent months. The CDU previously enjoyed large poll leads in Baden-Württemberg, but the latest survey put the party and the Greens level at 28% each. The election represents the first of several state contests scheduled for 2026 in which the CDU hopes to contain the rise of the far-right Alternative für Deutschland, or AfD.
Leading the CDU into the election is Manuel Hagel, 37, a former bank branch manager. Hagel's campaign encountered difficulties over comments he made about female students during a school visit in 2018, which were judged sexist and inappropriate. He has since apologised for the remarks.
The Greens' lead candidate is Cem Özdemir, 60. If the Greens retain control of the state, Özdemir would continue in a leadership role in Baden-Württemberg.